澳大利亚反对党发言人Julian Leeser主张扩大土著学生进入私立学校的规模，并以学业完成率数据作为支撑[1]。根据2025年数据，土著学生在私立学校的12年级留级率达到91.4%，明显高于政府学校的59%[1]。Leeser表示"我们应该看看什么有效，然后更广泛地推行"[1]。
然而，研究人员对这一政策取向提出质疑[1]。他们指出这些对比数据存在测量缺陷，因为私立学校招收的土著学生多为已具有学业成功、社会稳定背景且被视为"可能成功"的学生[1]。研究者认为，衡量真正成功的标准应当超越学业完成率，还应包括文化连接和社区支持等因素[1]。
位于阿纳姆地的私立学校Dhupuma Barker被视为成功的案例，该校在教授澳大利亚标准课程的同时，融入了Yolŋu传统教学和语言教育[1]。此外，2024年一所学生宿舍因照顾不周和学生虐待报告而被关闭，这也引发了对私立学校管理质量的担忧[1]。
Australia's opposition coalition is advocating for increased enrollment of Indigenous students in private schools, citing higher completion rates at those institutions. Coalition spokesperson Julian Leeser argued that "we should look at what works and roll it out more broadly," pointing to 2025 data showing Indigenous students in private schools achieved a Year 12 retention rate of 91.4 percent compared to 59 percent in government schools, while non-Indigenous students overall achieved 83 percent [1]. However, researchers have raised concerns about the validity of these comparisons, noting that private schools tend to enroll Indigenous students who already possess academic advantages and stable social circumstances—students identified as likely to succeed [1].
The push for private school expansion raises questions about whether completion rates alone measure genuine educational success. According to researchers, true success requires more than academic achievement; it must encompass cultural connection and community support [1]. A cautionary example emerged in 2024 when a student boarding facility was closed following reports of inadequate care and student mistreatment [1]. By contrast, Dhupuma Barker, a private school located in Arnhem Land, demonstrates an alternative model that combines Australian curriculum instruction with Yolŋu traditional teaching methods and language education [1].
